China Aims To Vault to Success (15th November, 2005)

China has brought out its strongest women’s team for the World Championships. The team is heavily focused towards achieving gold at the Beijing Olympics. The Chinese gymnasts have had strict rules imposed upon them. Their car keys and computers have been confiscated and they are not allowed out at night.

Lights go out at 10pm in their state provided apartments. When asked for permission, Fan Ye likes to go out shopping. The all around bronze medallist in Athens and China’s most experienced gymnast on the women’s team, 19 year old Zhang Nan will be hoping for success in Melbourne.

Cheng Fei should also be a contender especially on floor and she plans to show a new vault move which has a ten tariff, a first for China - who historically have been weak on vault.

She performed the complex move for the first time at the East Asian Games in Macau a few weeks ago but she fell and it cost her the gold medal. Hopefully come the qualification rounds next week, Cheng Fei will be psychologically prepared to successfully complete her new vault and achieve World Championships success.

Look for complete coverage of the 2005 World Championships in issue one of Backflip Gymnastics Magazine. Subscribe today!